UEFA Cup
2009-05-20 - Werder Bremen vs Shakhtar Donetsk
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Analysis:The final to be held in Istanbul is the last ever UEFA Cup final between Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk. Next season it will be called the Europa League and also a change of format. Shakhtar and Werder will battle it out to be the 38th and final winners of this cup.
Interestingly both clubs started out in the UEFA Champions League before dropping out of the round 32 stage. Shakhtar are the favourties as enroute they beat sides such as Tottenham, CSKA Moscow, Marseille and Dynamo Kiev and also done well in their domestic league.
Coming into this match, coach Mircea Lucescu will be able to name a full stength side as Brazilian playmaker Jadson is also fit after recovering from injury. Thus that means that midfielder Tomas Hubschman who is suspended for this clash is their only absentee which means that Mariusz Lewandowski will start in his place.
For German Bundesliga side, they have had a poor season in their domestic league and after a 3-1 home defeat to bottom club Karlsruhe over at the weekend, they will definitely finish out of the top half this season.
They reached the final after knocking out tournament favourites AC Milan, followed by St Etienne, Udinese and Hamburg. The likes of Diego and Hugo Almeida are out as they are suspended for this clash and Manager Thomas Schaaf also has to deal with a number of injury concerns. Influential defender defender Per Mertesacker is out, while captain Frank Baumann, Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg are all rated doubtful here.
Mesut Ozil will come in place to replace Diego, , while Alexandros Tziolis is set to play on the left of midfield and Sebastian Prodl will partner Naldo in defence.
Despite being the underdog here, I'll go for Werder Bremen as they do well in Cup competitions and could get an upset win here.
Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser
The Pick :
Werder Bremen to win 2-1
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Werder Bremen to win this match.
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Werder Bremen on level ball here.
